New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Duepetauber’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Duepetauber’ characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEPETAUBER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepetauber’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and uniform New Guinea Impatiens plants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2007 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number N02-0046-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number N05-0000-003, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duepetauber’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duepetauber’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of New Guinea Impatiens ‘Fisnics Purdeep’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,690. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Fisnics Purdeep’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens had shorter leaves than plants of         ‘Fisnics Purdeep’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had slightly smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Fisnics Purdeep’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Fisnics Purdeep’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Fisnics Purdeep’ had dark         purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepetauber’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typically used in commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetauber’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number N02-0046-001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number N05-0000-003, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading             growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit             with about seven lateral branches; moderately vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 17 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 148A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 185C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded and flat             axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically about             seven open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch;             flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar plane,             flowers typically face upright or outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about five to six             days under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning,             gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in Germany; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 61A.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 cm.             Depth: About 3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm.             Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate; rounded. Base: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 61A. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 61B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A.             Spur length: About 5.8 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 3             mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Spur color: Close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Upright to outward. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 177B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 7 mm. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 11C and 60B. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 11C. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 20B. Style color:             Close to 11B. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetauber’ as illustrated and described. 